Revelation while packing...minimalists beware! - YouLookFab Forum

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Revelation while packing...minimalists beware!

Susie

Veteran

My husband and I are going to visit family for a few days. We will be gone Thursday through Tuesday, hitting 3 different states! First up is one night at my mom's in Annapolis (waving to Janet!), then 2 nights with my inlaws in Delaware, then to PA to see my dad, one of my sisters, and some friends.

While most of our activities will be low key, I want to dress up a bit more than jeans. I don't get to see everyone very often, so I want our visit to feel like a special occasion and I want to wear things that I love.

So, I am taking 4 pairs of pants (1 of them skinny jeans) and 4 sweaters. I'm sure plenty of people would pack half that amount! But repeating just 1 outfit is my preference. And I will include nice lounge wear too. I could probably get away with one pair of boots (black of course!) but I will wear one and take one pair. Since it is a direct flight I am comfortable checking my bag so space shouldn't be an issue.

My revelation while gathering outfits is that I really do like bottoms that are either patterned or textured. I included a photo of the pants that I am taking- blackish/bronze velveteen jeans (EF), blue and black pattern wool pants (Lafayette), and black brocade jeans (KUT). The sweaters I will wear with them are all solid colors, mostly cashmere. Their interest comes more from their shape (boxy or hi low hem) and details like a mix of knits or leather trim.

For me, both the pants and the sweaters are statement pieces. And I guess I choose them because I like being able to wear just two pieces and have it feel like enough. I have other silhouettes that I wear but a sweater and pants is definitely my go to.

So...how many pieces would YOU pack for 5 or 6 days??

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Susie

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I could probably top that, Susie! I am sometimes a very efficient packer (when I have to be). But I am also fully capable of taking 3 outfits per day if I have the space!

So I have travelled for 5 or 6 days with as few as 2 bottoms and five tops, and as many as 6 bottoms and 10 tops plus 2 or 3 toppers!

I'm about to travel next week and it HAS to be light (carry on only) so I'm in a bit of a tizzy -- we may be going to different climates. (This is for work and the destinations are not decided yet.)

I am fully with you on the patterned/ textured pants. LOVE them. I think it is because many of my sweaters are solids and I like solids near my face.

Susie

Veteran

Suz, it would have been more if I thought that I would need a different outfit for evening vs daytime but I think what I have planned will work for anything that we do. One or two lunches out, a bit of shopping and one dinner out will probably be the extent of our activities beyond hanging out at the various houses.

Climate changes due add to the packing list. I am planning on 2 toppers- a sweater coat and a cashmere poncho. If it rains, I will borrow an umbrella!

Anonymous

Susie, I love statement bottoms on you! You wear them really well. I think if the sweaters are solid, albeit with an interesting cut, they might be considered "regulars" --fancier than an essential, but still allowing your pants to really shine. I don't think you're over packing at all! And I'm enjoying two-piece dressing lately as well. Have a wonderful trip!

crutcher

Veteran

You are going to see people that you don't see often and want to look nice for...I totally understand that...You now have a pass card to pack as much as you want for good impressions, to feel good about yourself, and to be the fashionista that you are probably rumored to be among friends and family...Have fun and travel safe..smile...

Susie

Veteran

Crutcher, I love that thought, thank you!

Claire, your take on statement vs regular is interesting. Though I don't know if I know the difference! And thank you for validating my choice of bottoms! I have to admit that in my mind I am calling the blue pattern pair my "crazy pants!"

unfrumped

Veteran

I think that sounds fine!
I had a similar realization, that I am a patterned pencil skirt magnet.
I think I can tolerate it because the shape is structured and simple, and I tend toward solid tops, and wear a lab coat over everything so no interesting toppers or even fancy collar detail. But, it surprised me as I "should" kind of minimize the hip.

I do find trip packing to be a challenge, and it's a real wardrobe-revealer as to versatility. Sometimes it's hard to limit items even if I would want to, such as being happy with repeats, because I found not all tops went with all bottoms, there were unexpected color clashes, and there was no "one jacket to rule them all".

So this is a goal--to have more capsular options. Also, I am learning to pass over the great top I think I love but it only goes with x. Instead I need the great top I love that goes with x, y, and z and several toppers. Because I would find I really wanted to wear and to pack this or that top but it wouldn't earn its keep, so I overpacked to include favorite items that then had to have specific other items in order to work.

Anonymous

I think it sounds perfect. If I was checking a bag in and didn't have worries about room, I could easily take more than you are. I like your thinking about taking nicer stuff to wear and making it feel special... a girl after my own heart. Enjoy!

Alassë

Veteran

I tend towards minimalism for trip packing. So 1-2 bottoms that work with each top, 1 top per day, 1 topper, 1 pair shoes, and requisite gear.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I can live on a six month trip with 12 pieces (really!) but find for the shorter trips I feel a need for more: weather vissicitudes, dining disasters with no time for laundry, more time spent with people I know, etc. etc. And at my cabin in the snow I know from experience to bring one extra dinner + one extra change of clothes in case we get snowed in without power. So what you took for what you're doing sounds about right.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I love packing for a trip. I always enjoy the challenge of building up a little capsule of looks around a few statement pieces.

I try to get as many looks out of as few pieces as possible. I often start with one or two items (which coat? which pants? which shoes?) and work from there. A typical winter travelling capsule might go something like this:

1 coat
2 pairs of pants
1 skirt
1 dress
2 statement mid-layers (jackets, trophy jumpers etc)
1 neutral mid-layer
5-7 base layer tops (t-shirts, skinny sweaters etc)
2 pairs of shoes (boots for walking, sneaks or pumps for indoors)
assorted underwear etc.

As long as I have access to laundry a really good capsule can last for weeks. without getting too boring, and look as casual or as formal as I want it to. But I invariably find something en route to add to it, because travelling to a new destination always means looking in shops I haven't seen before.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I love packing posts!
I think this looks fine. If you can take a suitcase, fill it, I say :). Love your patterned pants... and I love that you discovered this about your wardrobe preferences. Packing can be quite revealing can't it.

Whenever I go home for Christmas (driving) I overpack like you wouldn't believe. An outfit for Christmas dinner, shopping, visiting people, going to the children's play.... then I end up not shopping, not visiting people, and hang out in my Lululemon pants day after day. Crazy. Maybe this year _I_ will make an effort... esp as one of the capsules I've been trying to work on is my "as comfortable as Lulu but not for wearing to book club and hanging out drinking tea with friends inside my home" capsule. Time for a test drive!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I can pack mix-and-match minimal: I did it for my recent trip for my uncle's funeral and associated family events - an under-the-plane-seat-tote held everything for four days including two church events, and only one pair of shoes. And I did it by necessity for a 2 week trip to Europe last summer.

But I don't particularly enjoy it and I often don't feel like myself dressed that way. Not to mention that for any trip longer than 3-4 days, you end up having to find a place to do laundry, which unless you're staying at a relative's and are in one place for a while, can be more fraught than just checking a bag and having more clothes to work with.

DonnaF

Veteran

I tend to be minimalist (or so I tell myself), but then my DH told me that in holiday photos I'm always wearing the same things. Oops! I love that you're not just taking/wearing Every Woman's Default of Black Pants. And yes, I admit to owning more pairs of black pants than I care to admit (or wear for that matter). I love your footwear so I'm a bit disappointed you're not taking more pairs.

If you don't mind checking and schlepping your bag, why not take more? Our car is tiny, and I always want/need to take coffee and coffee making stuff, rice cooker, etc. etc. so trade-offs have to be made.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I like to have a clean pair of pants every 2 days. So I would definitely pack 3 pairs and wear a 4th. And I need a clean shirt every day. So although I'm pretty minimalist in style, I tend to pack more than, say, my husband, who is just fine wearing two pairs of pants and three shirts for a week. Yuck.

Louise

Veteran

I'm not a light traveller!! I turned up to my cousins once for a 4 night stay with a suitcase (think 2 week holiday size) and various other bags with toiletries, my pillow, shoes..........! My cousins little boy 9 took one look in the boot of the car and said "auntie Louise are you really only stopping a week or the whole summer!!" I usually pack one outfit per day plus one extra plus a going out outfit in case we get to go out in the evening x

Susie

Veteran

I'm relieved that no one thinks that 4 complete outfits for 5 days is TOO excessive! DH will definitely pack less and will probably do some laundry at his Mom's house. I don't like to HAVE to do laundry while I'm on vacation! I would rather just be prepared with enough clothes to not have to think about it.

Donna, I have LOTS of black pants in numerous styles, fabrics etc. And thank you for the shoe compliment...maybe I will slip in my black patent oxfords if there is room!

Susie

Veteran

Elizabeth, back in the spring my mom, sister and I had a little vacation in FL. I took lots of outfit options, including a couple for going out, and we ended up spending most of our time at the house!

carter

Veteran

To me, it's a very different packing challenge to go spend time with people I know than it is to go on vacation with just my husband. I would definitely pack in separate outfits for this trip (whereas mix and match is the goal for a couple weeks in Europe). I think we're also back to "consider the audience" here. If I went to the beach to visit my inlaws and then to NYC to visit my daughter, I would want to wear very different outfits. I have to say, I would probably pack a "spare" outfit as well...best laid plans and all...

Anonymous

Susie, I think it's covered in this thread:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ent-pieces
Somewhere down thread I asked Angie if there was a word for something that didn't exactly function as an essential, but wasn't a statement piece either. She called it a "regular".

Deborah

Veteran

I think you pack like I do:) While I consider myself a minimalist in many ways, I don't think that means we cant pack as much as we want to. I like to feel I am covered for everything when I pack, so I do generally pack more than I need Have a great time.

lyn67

Veteran

I'll pack like you, interresting bottoms and some plain sweater/tops/jackets. Only my bottoms would be probably be more some patterned/color blocked/waxed/tube pencil skirts:-)

Anonymous

Really like those pants, especially the black brocade ones!

I don't worry about being minimal as long as I can fit whatever I'm taking into whichever bag makes sense to bring. I could probably do a minimal capsule if I really had to for some reason, but I think it would stress me out.

I usually just pack a bunch of casual knit dresses and generally do one for each day, along with leggings or tights if it's cold, plus one extra in case of something unexpected. With dresses, the only other big things to think about are shoes and cardigans. For a winter trip, even a long one, I'd probably just wear the same pair of black boots every day, with maybe one nicer pair of shoes thrown in for nice meals or something. For warm-weather trips, I'd maybe pack an extra pair of everyday shoes since they're lighter. And I usually do one cardigan for a weekend trip, two for a slightly longer trip, and three for a week or more.

And I almost always check my bag because I hate having to get my toiletries down to one quart-sized plastic bag and dragging a suitcase all around the airport. If I'm checking, I do put a change of clothes, or at least underwear, into my carry-on tote so I'm not completely lost if my luggage is delayed.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I need variety when I travel, so I will only go "minimal" when I have no choice. I think your plan is fabulous --- kind of "luxe casual," relying on rich patterns on bottom and rich fibers (with modern styling) on top.

I like to pack one outfit for active wear -- for a family hike, etc. A pair of cute sneakers paired with loungewear that can do double duty sometimes works for this.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love your packing strategy, Susie. To answer your question, I pack whatever I need to feel fab on my trip. If it takes 4 pairs of bottoms for six days - why not.

Susie

Veteran

So I tried putting most of my stuff in my suitcase last night and the patent oxfords are staying home! I could get them in if I squished stuff but I'd rather not. Between the low heeled boots I will wear to travel tomorrow evening and the higher heeled ones I am packing, I will be fine. Plus I had to include a pair of comfy house shoes for lounge time.

Thank you everyone for your validation!